Engine



. Pat'e'ntad Apr. I8, I899. T. LITWILLEB. ENGINE (Application filed Mar.26, 1897.

2 Shani-Sheet (No Model.)

No. 623,:681 Patented Apr. I8, I899. T. LITWILLER.

ENGINE.

(Applicatien filed Mar. 26, 1897.. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Nr'rni) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LITIVILLER, OF TREMONT, ILLINOIS.

ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,168, dated April18, 1899.

Application filed March 26, 1897. Serial No. 629,456. (No model.) I

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS L1Tw1LLnR,a citizen of the United States,residing at Tremont, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improvedconstruction of balanced slide-valves by means of which a balance-valveis constructed that is well adapted for the purpose designed.

By means of the construction I employ in carrying out my invention boththe combination of valves and the means for connecting and actuating thesaid valves are very simple and durable and are arranged and manipulatedto utilize the motive agent to the greatest advantage and constructed toreduce the friction to a minimum.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will hereinafter be described, and then pointed out in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all of the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an engine and steam-chest. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section showing the interior of the cylinder and steam-chestand the relative position of the working parts. Fig. 3 is an elevationof the steam-chest with the front wall thereof removed. Fig. 4 is asection on the line X X of Fig. 3.

In the drawings Ihave shown and described myinvention as applied to amultiple-piston engine and will proceed to describe the working functionof the same in connection with my balance-valve.

The bed-frame of the engine is as a whole indicated by M.

B is the steam-cylinder, containing the piston-heads N O P and suitablysecured on the bed-frame, the ends of which are closed by the heads b N,secured thereto by set-screws or by other suitable means.

(I. b are steam-ports opening out of steamchest E. The steam isdelivered to the cylinder from the steam-chest through the said ports ab and exhausts therefrom through the same ports.

The pistons in cylinder B are adapted to operate in the manner shown,and the said cylinder has its ports a 12 adapted to register alternatelywith the ports 0 d, formed in the main slide-valve D, mounted to slidein the steam-chest E. F is a valve-stem connected with the mechanism forimparting a reciprocating motion to the said valve, consisting of thepitman-bar F, pivoted to the rod and eccentrically carried and drivenfrom shaft V, for imparting a reciprocating motion to said valve toalternately connect the portsc d with the ports a b, respectively.

c is an exhaust port, space,or openingin the valve D, and c is anexhaust port or opening cored into the steam-chestE between the ports aand b and adapted to communicate with the exhaust-port c, where it opensout through the bottom face of the main valve D. With in the steam-chestis located a second or cutofi valve H, seated on the main valve andconsisting of a flat lower part and a central raised neck, having achamber adapted to communicate with the exhaust c,where it opens out ata point in the top face of valve D, and this valve H is adapted to bereciprocated in the steam-chest in such a manneras to alternately openand close the ports 0 d in valve D, the

said valve H being adapted to reciprocate throughout the greater portionof its move ment in an opposite direction from the movement of the valveD". Said valve H is also adapted to have a one-fourth lead over the saidvalve to facilitate in the proper working of the combined valves andadapted to so operate in connection with ports a d thatas one port isopened to admit steam the other will be closed; but the exhaust-ports orone of them at a time will be opened a short time after its matchingport has been closed.

H is a stem connected with valve H,which are two upright pins 1.; 7c,spaced just outside the end sections h, and 2' vi are leaf-springs, eachhaving a depressed center engaged inside one of said pins and two bentends hearing upon the outer face of its section h, whereby the foursections are held together. The sectional frame is held against the sidewall of the steam-chest in such manner as to produce a practicallysteam-tight joint by means of other and similarlyconstructed spring at0n.,whose bent ends bear against the lower edges of the side sections hand whose depressed centers rest one upon a lug m at one side of theneck and the other upon the valve-stem ll,which is secured to the valve.By forming the valves in the manner shown I am better able to produce apractically complete balanced valve. Of course some little steam mayescape into the interior of the valve or into the exhaust-space providedin each, but not enough to in any way afiect the principle of working ofthe valve. In connection with the steam-chest I provide the stuffing-boxn, which carries the stems F and H. The s! eam enters the steam-chestthrough the inlet-opening K in the top portion thereof.

As before mentioned, through the body of the main valve D is arrangedthe exhaust-port c,which also opens into the chamber in valve II andconnects with the outlet c leading to the outside, it being understoodthat the steam passing into the steam-chest from the cylinder can passthrough the exhaust-ports to the outside. The valves D and H aresomewhat less in width than the steam-chest, and hence the valve way orseat is correspondingly less in width, but extends the entire length ofthe steam-chest, as plainly shown in the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an engine, the combination with the cylinder, piston, steam-chest,and main valve therein having steam and exhaust ports; of theherein-described cut-off valve comprising a flat lower part and anupwardly-extending hollow rectangular neck of smaller contour, means forreciprocating both valves, pins in the lower part of the cut-off valveat opposite ends of and remote from the neck, a frame surrounding thelatter and consisting of two end sections notched near their extremitiesand two side sections whose extremities fit said notches, expansivesprings between said pins and the end sections for holding all sectionsengaged, and expansive springs between said lower part and side sectionsfor holding the latter in contact with the wall of the steam-chest,substantially as described.

2. In an engine, the combination with the steam-chest, and the mainvalve therein having steam and exhaust ports; of a cut-01f valvecomprising a flat lower part and an upwardlyextending rectangular neckof smaller contour, means for moving both valves, pins in the lower partof the cut-off valve at opposite ends of and remote from said neck, aframe surrounding the latter and consisting of two end sections notchedin their inner faces near their extremities and two side sections whoseextremities fit the notches, and a removable leaf-spring between eachendsection and its adjacent pin, the spring having a depressed centerbearing against said pin and bent ends contacting with the outer face ofsaid section to hold its notches engaged with the extremities of theside sections, substantially as de scribed.

3. In an engine, the combination with a steam-chest having parallelcover and seat, and the main valve reciprocating therein and providedwith steam and exhaust ports; of a cut-off valve reciprocating betweenthe main valve and cover and comprising a flat lower part and anupwardly-extending rectangular neck, a lug at one end of the latter, avalvestem connected with the other end thereof, a frame surrounding theneck and consisting of two end sections and notches in their inner facesand two side sections whose extremities engage said notches, means forpressing the end sections inward, and leaf-springs having depressedcenters resting on said lug and stem respectively and bent ends forholding the side sections in contact with the wall of the steam-chest,substantially as described.

at. In an engine, the combination with the cylinder, the usualsteam-chest with its ports and having parallel cover and seat, and themain reciprocating slide-valve having two main ports and an interposedexhaust-port extending through its body; of a cut-off valve upon themain valve and beneath said cover, said valve having a flat lowerportion and an upwardly-extending neck provided with a chamber adaptedto register with said exhaust-port, a loose-jointed frame surroundingsaid neck and comprising four sections, two springs for holding saidsections engaged with each other, and two other springs for holdingcertain sections in contact with the cover of the steam-chest and thebodies of the two valves in contact -with each other, all substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS LITlVILLER.

Witnesses:

IV. V. TEFFT, OHAs. W. LA PORTE.

